Southwest stressing!

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by d4est
I guess they will always be "our babies"

LOL, yep and sometimes more baby than our babies.

 

[NotUrsula]

LOL, I'll never forget one woman who spent the entire boarding period very pointedly making a production out of "changing" a diaper, with the entire contents of the diaper bag strewn over the row. (The child didn't need a change at the time, and was sleeping.) She was actually trying to get the whole row for herself and her lap child. Of course, the flight was fully booked, and the FA busted her and told her to pack it all up; that the seats were sold and there were standby's waiting.

Except on the MCO route, I actually see business travellers pulling the "saving for a phantom" stunt most often. Usually these are middle-aged men who are tall and somewhat on the um, robust, side. My guess is that they are ticked b/c the company is making them fly SWA, when they might be snagging a BC upgrade on a traditional carrier.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by prncess674
but it is rude and inconsiderate to those of us who showed up early to receive A boarding cards. Basically a child under 5 is apparently a commodity. you win the lottery and can basically show up as late as you want to the airport get C cards board the plane with 3 kids and 2 adults and then hold seatts for G-maw, G-Paw, aunt, uncle and whoever else is with you.

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Well based on your comments to the OP, then perhaps you should choose another airline if this procedure bothers you..

"SWA won't cry if you don't fly with them...."

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by C.Ann
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Well based on your comments to the OP, then perhaps you should choose another airline if this procedure bothers you..

"SWA won't cry if you don't fly with them...."

No thanks.... I am quite happy with SWA's open seating policy. But you too have a choice if YOU aren't happy YOU can choose another airline.

It is not written anywhere that SWA allows "Seat Holding". if someone lays a bag in a seat that I want to occupy I will just move it and sit.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by prncess674
No thanks.... I am quite happy with SWA's open seating

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Well at least we can agree on one thing! I LOVE SWA.. Could care less about preboarding policies, saving seats, etc..

They're cheap, fast, friendly - heck - I'll take a folding chair on the wing! I don't like to get in a "huff" when I'm traveling - life is way too short!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Dee and I were separated by one letter. I boarded first and held a seat for him.
I was an A he was a B. Sorry if you find that offensive, but, I was told it would be perfectly allright, and since they make the rules, I listen to them.

SW would have allowed Dee to board with you (A group). When a party is split they generally extend the courtesy. Happened to me several times.

 

[Trekker]

Hey - will you all please lighten up!

If you cannot post to this thread without arguing, insulting each other, being sarcastic, or just plain being mean - take it off line - communicate with each other via e-mail or PM but on these boards - BE NICE!


POSTING GUIDELINES Please follow them!

 

[DisOrBust]

What I know of SWA was what I saw on one episode of Airline, that was enough to scare anyone. I was not aware of the A,B,C boarding. That probably wouldn't effect us anyway because we are usually 2 -3 hours early after one experience of barely making it. I am trying to plan a surprise Bday trip for my DH over thanksgiving and really do need a cheap flight or I would not have asked. Back to one of my orginal questions.. when do they release fares.. six months out???

 

[My2Girls66]

I don't know much about SWA. I've always had better luck getting cheaper airfares thru Delta/Song. A friend just bought tickets to Fl. on - US Air- for $135r/t including taxes. Southwest is always higher priced- in the $300+ range when we fly(on school vacations from either Manchester, NH or Boston).
Keep checking the different websites- you'll come up with something. Good Luck!
I just looked on their website- looks like 6 months out is as far out as you can book. They have thru Sept. now.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by My2Girls66
I don't know much about SWA. I've always had better luck getting cheaper airfares thru Delta/Song. A friend just bought tickets to Fl. on - US Air- for $135r/t including taxes. Southwest is always higher priced- in the $300+ range when we fly(on school vacations from either Manchester, NH or Boston).

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Are you talking about summer vacations as well? If so, there was a $49 fare each way from Manchester, NH..

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone beating SWA with direct flights.. I hate changing airplanes, so even if I had to pay a few dollars more I would still fly SWA.. I'm such a chicken when it comes to big airports - LOL..

 

[DisOrBust]

Unfortunately here in the midwestwe don't have song or jet blue . The best I can do out of Milwaukee is AirTran. I was trying if I could get a better deal out of Ohare (TED) or Midway (SWA)>. I'm not sure driving 90 miles to chicago is even worth it. I'll have to be patient and see if there is a fare sale..and AP rates...

 

[My2Girls66]

Originally posted by C.Ann
---------------------------------

Are you talking about summer vacations as well? If so, there was a $49 fare each way from Manchester, NH..

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone beating SWA with direct flights.. I hate changing airplanes, so even if I had to pay a few dollars more I would still fly SWA.. I'm such a chicken when it comes to big airports - LOL..

We flew to Phoenix last July- Delta was the cheapest when I booked in April. I paid $256. Southwest was $356. I checked flights for around 2 months before I booked the flight.
Mostly we fly during April, Nov and Feb. to Florida. Our flight tomorrow night is on Song- non stop from Boston to MCO- we paid $215. The price on Delta from Manchester was $196 but it had a stop. I hate stops too so we went with the extra $19/ticket and the furthur airport to get the non stop. Southwest was $320+ when I booked in January. I didn't hear about Jetblue starting out of Boston until I had already booked my flight. They were $205 from Boston- non stop.
PS- I got a better price on Song thru the Delta website than from the Song website. Figure that one out!
Someday I hope to catch one of those $49 fares.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by prncess674
No thanks.... I am quite happy with SWA's open seating policy. But you too have a choice if YOU aren't happy YOU can choose another airline.

It is not written anywhere that SWA allows "Seat Holding". if someone lays a bag in a seat that I want to occupy I will just move it and sit.

And you don't think that is rude? I would hope you would ask first. Perhaps that person is waiting for someone who got a B pass when he/she got an A.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Lewisc
SW would have allowed Dee to board with you (A group). When a party is split they generally extend the courtesy. Happened to me several times.

That is nice to know Lewis, thanks. It worked out well for us the one time it happened. I just held the CENTER seat for him while I waited in my WINDOW seat. That left the AISLE seat for the FA to come and chat with us and buy us drinks cause we were fun.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DisOrBust
What I know of SWA was what I saw on one episode of Airline, that was enough to scare anyone. I was not aware of the A,B,C boarding. That probably wouldn't effect us anyway because we are usually 2 -3 hours early after one experience of barely making it. I am trying to plan a surprise Bday trip for my DH over thanksgiving and really do need a cheap flight or I would not have asked. Back to one of my orginal questions.. when do they release fares.. six months out???

Please, don't let that show scare you off, it portrays the worst of the worst.
They generally release fares between 4 and 6 months out. Right now they are booking until the 13 of Sept. When they do release later dates it is generally middle to the end of the month. They are most definitely whimsical about releasing them.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by My2Girls66
I don't know much about SWA. I've always had better luck getting cheaper airfares thru Delta/Song. A friend just bought tickets to Fl. on - US Air- for $135r/t including taxes. Southwest is always higher priced- in the $300+ range when we fly(on school vacations from either Manchester, NH or Boston).
Keep checking the different websites- you'll come up with something. Good Luck!
I just looked on their website- looks like 6 months out is as far out as you can book. They have thru Sept. now.

SWA is now 49.00 each way (excluding taxes and fees) from Manchester, NH.

 

[NotUrsula]

I've occasionally had the "majors" beat SWA on price for a direct flight, but it doesn't happen often from my airport, STL. The exceptions are the last-minute specials that AA and United will run when they need to fill the seats. (And in the midwest, that isn't likely to be a Florida route.)

What I tend to find when I get cheaper seats on AA or Delta is that they have oversold the flight and will not give me a seat assignment anyway. (I'm not talking standby, this is supposedly a guaranteed seat.) If I'm by myself it's not too bad, but when DS is with me it's a pain, because we always have to play the waiting game at the gate while the gate agent tries to rearrange people to get two seats together. (He's 6, and he gets excited when he flies, bouncing off the walls excited. They take one look at him and always decide not to risk seating him alone.)

On the whole I prefer SWA; that way I have control over the situation, and the staff generally tends to be more polite.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by NotUrsula
I've occasionally had the "majors" beat SWA on price for a direct flight, but it doesn't happen often from my airport, STL. The exceptions are the last-minute specials that AA and United will run when they need to fill the seats. (And in the midwest, that isn't likely to be a Florida route.)

What I tend to find when I get cheaper seats on AA or Delta is that they have oversold the flight and will not give me a seat assignment anyway. (I'm not talking standby, this is supposedly a guaranteed seat.) If I'm by myself it's not too bad, but when DS is with me it's a pain, because we always have to play the waiting game at the gate while the gate agent tries to rearrange people to get two seats together. (He's 6, and he gets excited when he flies, bouncing off the walls excited. They take one look at him and always decide not to risk seating him alone.)

On the whole I prefer SWA; that way I have control over the situation, and the staff generally tends to be more polite.

And, add to that, they rarely change or cancel flights.

 

[My2Girls66]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
SWA is now 49.00 each way (excluding taxes and fees) from Manchester, NH.

They always seem to have these great fares when I have no plans to go anywhere. I've never seen these great fares from Manchester during holidays/school vacation weeks. Believe me, I check, double check and triple check! We are 1/2 way between Manchester and Boston so I can check both airports. Boston almost always has the better fares.
How far out do you book your flights? I try to do it at least 2 months out- usually 3-4 months- before the plane gets too full.
I'd get too nervous if I waited too long. We don't have a lot of flexibility with the kids in school and all.

For some reason when I booked our flight on Song to MCO for tomorrow, I didn't get my seat assignments. I called tonight and got them. I would have waited til we got to the airport but with 4 kids I wanted to be sure they would be seated with me and my DH. She told me that they always will put kids with their parents, even if I had waited to get my seats when we checked in, it wouldn't be a problem. 7 of us flying, 3 rows together- 3-2-2. She told me she was surprised the seats weren't assigned at the time I booked them--but honestly- the person I was talking to was from India and didn't understand 1/2 of what he was saying. (I consider myself lucky he has me going to MCO and not Timbucktu). I normally book my flights online where you choose your seats when you book. We've never had seats changed on us.
We'll be in Disney tomorrow night!! getting so excited!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by My2Girls66
They always seem to have these great fares when I have no plans to go anywhere. I've never seen these great fares from Manchester during holidays/school vacation weeks. Believe me, I check, double check and triple check! We are 1/2 way between Manchester and Boston so I can check both airports. Boston almost always has the better fares.
How far out do you book your flights? I try to do it at least 2 months out- usually 3-4 months- before the plane gets too full.
I'd get too nervous if I waited too long. We don't have a lot of flexibility with the kids in school and all.

For some reason when I booked our flight on Song to MCO for tomorrow, I didn't get my seat assignments. I called tonight and got them. I would have waited til we got to the airport but with 4 kids I wanted to be sure they would be seated with me and my DH. She told me that they always will put kids with their parents, even if I had waited to get my seats when we checked in, it wouldn't be a problem. 7 of us flying, 3 rows together- 3-2-2. She told me she was surprised the seats weren't assigned at the time I booked them--but honestly- the person I was talking to was from India and didn't understand 1/2 of what he was saying. (I consider myself lucky he has me going to MCO and not Timbucktu). I normally book my flights online where you choose your seats when you book. We've never had seats changed on us.
We'll be in Disney tomorrow night!! getting so excited!!

I hope you have a WONDERFUL time!!!! I booked my flights for Sept. a couple of weeks ago. When I see good ones, I grab them.